The Palawan Provincial Board (PB) has reprogrammed around P1.5 million from the Community Assistance Program (CAP) to the Public Welfare Program (PWP) to extend financial assistance to poor residents and to implement their projects and programs.
Board member Leoncio Ola, chair of the appropriations committee of the PB, said Tuesday it is under CAP where they get their PWP budget to be able to help poor residents financially.
He explained this is done when residents who seek help go to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and are sent back to them with a form where they could indicate the amount to extend.
“Pumupunta sila sa PSWDO then ipapadala sa amin ang form at doon namin ilalagay ang amount kung magkano. Ang budget kasi namin ay under sa appropriation ng CAP doon na kami kumukuha ng assistance for public welfare (They go to the PSWDO then a form is sent to us and we write there how much is the amount. Our budget is under the CAP appropriation and we get there our assistance for public welfare),” Ola said.
Ola explained P1.5 million is what they currently need in the PWP. If the fund runs out, a proposed ordinance will be filed again at the PB and subsequently approved after proper deliberations.
He said they cannot funds directly from the CAP to the PWP without following the process to avoid any irregularity.
“Kapag naubos na ang pondo sa public welfare program bago kami gagawa ng ordinance na lagyan ulit ‘yan ng pondo galing sa community assistance program. Wala kasi kaming appropriation na iba kaya dyan kinukuha (If there is no more fund in the PWP, then we will make an ordinance to fill it up again from the CAP. We have no other appropriation where to get this fund from),” he added.
Ola justified that the reprogramming of P1.5 million is to be able to help many Palaweños who come to their offices daily to ask for financial assistances.
